Indianapolis Colts

Jim Irsay, the bombastic owner of the Indianapolis Colts, says his club is ready to make a major trade. And, of course, Maurice Jones-Drew, the disgruntled Jacksonville Jaguars running back, is available. Irsay took to Twitter on Thursday to say the Colts were seriously looking to make a deal, following up that tweet with another about new General Manager Ryan Grigson being willing to gamble and that the owner himself would open his checkbook to get a trade done. Then came a third tweet: TRADE WINDS BLOWING.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- There wasn't an available parking spot Thursday morning within a mile of Denver Broncos headquarters. More than 4,000 fans - a record crowd - showed up for the first day of training camp, their jerseys turning a hillside orange on the north side of the practice fields. Their cheers were raucous when new quarterback Peyton Manning jogged onto the playing surface, and louder still when - at his audible of "Go! Go!" - he found receiver Andre Caldwell on a deep pass down the left sideline.

1. Indianapolis Colts: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford - The last time the Colts had the No. 1 pick in the draft was 1998, when they selected Peyton Manning. Luck spent his early childhood in London, England, and Frankfurt, Germany, where his father, Oliver, was the GM of two World League of American Football teams prior to becoming league president. Oliver went to high school in Houston, where he was co-valedictorian of his class. Comment: Because the Colts are rebuilding, that should buy Luck some time.

The Indianapolis Colts have informed Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck that he's the No. 1 pick in next week's draft, The Times has confirmed. The news was first reported Thursday morning by ESPN's Adam Schefter. That means Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is in line to go second to the Washington Redskins. Although that 1-2 lineup has been forecast for months, there had been increasing speculation in recent weeks that the Colts were flirting with the idea of taking Griffin.

Peyton Manning is on his way to becoming the new starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos, according to a report by ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Citing multiple sources, the report today says Manning has instructed his agent, Tom Condon, to intensify contract negotiations with the Broncos. If a deal is completed, ESPN is reporting, the Broncos will try to trade quarterback Tim Tebow, who led the team to a playoff victory last season. The report calls a contract between Manning and the Broncos a "formality" at this point, saying the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback and the Broncos' vice president of football operations, John Elway, already discussed a five-year, $95-million deal during a March 9 meeting in Denver and that Elway told Manning he was ready to finalize a contract "fair to both sides" during a workout in Durham, N.C., on March 16 The contract is expected to include language to protect the team in case Manning can't perform due to his prior neck surgeries, but the quarterback has already passed a physical administered by Broncos doctors.

Of the teams hoping to court Peyton Manning, the Miami Dolphins seem to have many powerful supporters. Donald Trump and Dwyane Wade have publicly said they would like Manning to play for the Dolphins, the Miami Heat star tweeting : "I'm just gonna put it out thr..peyton that number 18 wld look gr8 in a dolphins uniform..steve ross let's go.. marlins & heat style..All in" Not so fast. Dolphins Coach Joe Philbin told reporters that he has not yet spoken to Manning -- but added that he intends to soon. "Obviously, he's had a phenomenal career up to this point," Philbin said before a Thursday evening Make-A-Wish Foundation auction at Miami's Sun Life Stadium.

In a move that was a foregone conclusion — yet somehow still a shock to the system — the Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning parted ways Wednesday. Peacefully. Tearfully. "We tried to put each other in each other's shoe and try to realize what the situation was for the franchise, what it was for Peyton," Colts owner Jim Irsay said, his voice cracking as he stood alongside Manning in a news conference at team headquarters. "In the end, those circumstances were too difficult to overcome.

Peyton Manning's release by the Indianapolis Colts was as civil a sports divorce as you'll ever see, announced Wednesday with dignity and more than a few tugs on the heartstrings. Explained in sometimes wavering voices by Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay, this was a difficult but reasoned decision. Not to be confused with "The Decision," the contrived and ego-pumping TV show in which LeBron James told the world he would take his talents to South Beach. The world, by the way, is still waiting for him to take the NBA championship trophy there.

Peyton Manning wanted to stay with his team but was pushed out the door by ownership. LeBron James was leaving a team that desperately wanted him to stay. Which one do you think had the classier farewell? While there seems to be an ever-decreasing level of humility and grace in the sports world, former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning gave a farewell news conference Wednesday and thanked the Colts and the team owners for giving him a chance to lead the team for so many years.

One of the greatest eras in NFL history is coming to a close. Peyton Manning will be released Wednesday by the Indianapolis Colts, according to multiple reports, ending a months-long saga of what the franchise would do with the league's only four-time most valuable player. The news was first reported on ESPN.com. Manning, who sat out last season recovering from multiple neck surgeries, has said he intends to play this season, even if it's with another franchise. Manning, who turns 36 this month, won a Super Bowl with the Colts in 2006.